Chapter 42: 41 - Gelato

This is what happens when you forget to tame your best friend. This is also what happens when your phone is on a plan to ruin your life, because tell me why the call refused to go off.

Finally, Lauren succeeded in hanging up before Rachel caused any more havoc. Her skin burned red out of embarrassment.

Tyler couldn't believe his ears. What does dicked down even mean? He smiled at the question replaying in his head.

He recognized that voice from the night at the OG Lounge. She was the other girl Lauren was with. The one who wanted to step in and rescue her when he held her arm.

Well at least she told her friend she was traveling. Probably for safety measures, he presumed. Still, Tyler didn't remember writing anything about being fucked on the first day.

Except that was what she wanted of course.

Wait a second, her friend wouldn't just insinuate that. Obviously, he would love to get to the bottom of this, but her cheeks were already red enough as it was.

“I think your friend has a few things to say to you,” Tyler teased.

“I will call her later,” Lauren responded, surprised at how much she was able to hold her composure after that bomb on speakerphone.

“Well then, shall we go grab the ice scream?” Tyler asked, like a proper gentleman.

Lauren was so buried in her thoughts, she didn't even realize that the car had stopped.

In no time the door swung open for the both of them, and they both alighted from the car.

Oh no. She turned to see the ever gorgeous, and astonishingly dressed Tyler Gray.

Now that was a proper fit for one of those linen shirts that had become her nightwear two nights in a row.

The mustard-colored shirt clung to his biceps, almost like the shirt enjoyed being worn by him. If she was one she would too.

And the matching linen pants, long enough to cover his sandals. He looked so good, still it was odd seeing him dressed like this and not in a pin-up suit.

Why was he dressed like he was on a vacation? Were they on a vacation together?

Compared to Tyler, she looked like she was going to work out or something. Safe to say she only wore the joggers because it was really comfortable to travel in.

She didn't sign up for walking around the city with Mr handsome here to go have ice cream. He was making her look bad. Then again, he would stand out beside anyone.

“Come on, it's just by the corner here,” Tyler said, maintaining cool strides in front of her.

Lauren followed behind, struggling to keep up. This was weird. She thought he was going to bring her to some sort of fancy ice cream spot, but here they were walking towards

what seemed like an ice cream bus.

Before she could ask any questions, Tyler's smile lit up as he made eye contact with the owner she presumed.

“If it isn't my favorite tourist,” the elderly man said, from behind the wheel.

“Good to see you too Paulo,” Tyler's response was gentle and familiar, as he made his way to the front of the stand.

“Here for business I suppose?” Paulo asked, his wide grin not leaving his face.

“Oui my friend,” Tyler responded.

“And this is…?” Paulo asked, shifting his gaze from Tyler to her.

For a minute there she thought she was invisible to both of them. What scared her the most was the question this man had just asked. Who was Tyler Gray going to introduce her as?

Tyler turned over to her. For a split second, he said nothing before hesitantly replying. “Paulo, meet Lauren, Lauren, this is Paulo, my old friend.”

Oh wow. She had no label. Paulo was a friend. And she…she was just Lauren.

“It's nice to meet you Paulo,” Lauren said.

“Nice to meet you too, Lauren,” he responded.

“What will the both of you like to have?” he went ahead to ask.

“You know the drill. I will have my usual flavor combo. I have been dreaming of it since the last time,” Tyler replied.

Paulo chuckled at his response.

“Ha ha, you have been saying that since you were 18,” Paulo commented, mocking Tyler.

18? Lauren wondered. Which means they had really known each other for a long time.

“How about you young lady?”

“Oh me? Lauren asked, trying to process the question. She could barely keep her thoughts together.

“I think I'll have a regular strawberry flavor,” she responded, feeling proud of her choice.

“Sweet sweet, pink like your shirt,” Paulo chuckled.

Lauren didn't know whether to find that offensive or take it as a joke. With the way Tyler laughed out loud, maybe she would take it as a joke.

The man was quick to make their order as they just stood there waiting in silence.

“Here you go,” Paulo said, stretching out their medium size bowls of deliciousness to them.

It looked so good. Lauren couldn't wait to try it and neither could Tyler.

Immediately, Lauren grabbed the mini spoon and went in for a taste. The texture was really nice and sweet, nothing like she had ever had before.

She noticed Tyler staring at her from the corner of her eyes.

“Well. You can't leave us hanging like that, you have to rate it,” he said.

It was then she realized that the elderly man was also focused on her.

“It's nice,” she replied casually.

“Don't use words. On a scale of one to ten,” Tyler said, not giving up.

All of a sudden, he seemed like a kid in her eyes. A kid trying to force his best friend to like something he liked.

“I give it a 9.5 out of 10,” Lauren said, satisfying their curiosity.

Next thing Lauren knew, Paulo lifted a paper tower to his eyes, wiping what looked like imaginary tears.

“Oh no. Don't cry Paulo, you would always be a 10 out of 10 for me,” Tyler said, shifting his focus entirely to the man.

Wait, was he really upset about her rating? She was just being honest. Well in that case, she would have to apologize.

“No no, I didn’t say it was bad. It's really good. There's no need to get emotional,” Lauren pleaded.

Tyler and Paulo looked at her for a whole two seconds before bursting out laughing.

Was there something in the ice cream that was making these two grown men go crazy? Cause if there was she was going to stop taking it this instance.

“These are not real tears. Paulo is just joking,” the man said in between the laughter.

Of course. Now they were just using her as an amusement.

Tyler noticed that her countenance had changed. He thought she would have fun at this stand and enjoy the gelato.

“Paulo was just playing a prank on you. He used to be an actor,” Tyler explained, trying to make the situation better.

“An actor. That's pretty good,” Lauren commented.

“Yeah, I know right? And Paulo,” Tyler called out, “ Lauren here is the drama teacher at Emily's high school,” he added.

“Impressive,” Paulo responded.

The way Tyler spoke about her, for a minute there gave her butterflies. Almost like he was proud to show her off to this man. Or maybe that was all in her head.

“Thank you,” Lauren responded.

Beep Beep

Tyler's phone buzzed, drawing his attention.

“It was nice seeing you today Paulo, but we have to leave,” he said.

“Come again, my friend. You know you are always welcome,” the man replied.

Tyler took out his wallet and stretched out a handful of hundred-dollar bills to the man.

Instantly, it brought a smile to his face.

“Make sure you say hi to Peggy for me,” he added.

“I sure will,” Paulo replied, receiving the money.

“Come on Lauren, let's go. We don't have all evening.”